Editing Independence Day (1996 film) (section)

==Cast==
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* [[Will Smith]] as Captain Steven Hiller, a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18]] pilot squadron leader with the Black Knight squadron at [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]] and aspiring astronaut. The role was originally offered to [[Ethan Hawke]], but he turned it down, as he thought the script was terrible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/ethan-hawke-turned-down-independence-day-threw-out-script-1202004872/|title = Ethan Hawke Gets Brutally Honest About Turning Down 'Independence Day,' Thought Script Was So Bad He Threw It Out|date = September 18, 2018}}</ref> Devlin and Emmerich had always envisioned an African-American for the role,<ref name="lat">{{cite web|url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie960716-1,2,1312906.story|title=Independence Day review|first=Kenneth |last=Turan |authorlink=Kenneth Turan|date=July 2, 1996|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619051208/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie960716-1%2C2%2C1312906.story|archive-date=June 19, 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref> and specifically wanted Smith after seeing his performance in ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|Six Degrees of Separation]]''.<ref>Aberly and Engel 1996, p. 36.</ref>
* [[Bill Pullman]] as [[List of fictional presidents of the United States (U–Z)#President Thomas J. Whitmore|President Thomas J. Whitmore]], a former fighter pilot and [[Gulf War]] veteran. To prepare for the role, Pullman read [[Bob Woodward]]'s ''The Commanders'' and watched the documentary film ''[[The War Room]]''.<ref>Aberly and Engel 1996, p. 32.</ref>
* [[Jeff Goldblum]] as David Levinson, an [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]]-educated satellite engineer and technological expert.
* [[Mary McDonnell]] as First Lady Marilyn Whitmore, wife of Thomas Whitmore.
* [[Judd Hirsch]] as Julius Levinson, David Levinson's father. The character was based on one of Dean Devlin's uncles.<ref name="dvd">DVD commentary</ref>
* [[Robert Loggia]] as General William Grey, USMC, the Commandant of the [[United States Marine Corps]]. Loggia modeled the character after World War II generals, particularly [[George S. Patton]].<ref>Aberly and Engel 1996, p. 42.</ref>
* [[Randy Quaid]] as Russell Casse, an eccentric, alcoholic former fighter pilot and [[Vietnam War]] veteran. He insists that he was [[Alien abduction|abducted by the aliens]] during work on [[aerial application]] ten years prior to the film's events, shortly after completing his military service.
* [[Margaret Colin]] as Constance Spano, Whitmore's [[White House Communications Director]] and David Levinson's ex-wife.
* [[Vivica A. Fox]] as Jasmine Dubrow, Steven Hiller's girlfriend and mother of Dylan Dubrow.
* [[James Rebhorn]] as Albert Nimziki, the Secretary of Defense and, as former [[Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|CIA Director]], is a member of a governmental faction who are aware of the aliens' existence due to the ship recovered at Roswell. Not well-liked, lying, arrogant, selfish, crooked, and often at odds with idealists such as Whitmore and Grey, Nimziki embodies the stereotypical corrupt politician and his ambition is to be elected as president himself. Rebhorn described the character as being much like [[Oliver North]].<ref>Aberly and Engel 1996, p. 44.</ref> The character's eventual firing lampoons Joe Nimziki,<ref name="bnet">{{cite news | first=Stephen | last=Galloway | title=Affleck's Schedule Busies After 'Harbor' | publisher=bnet.com | date=July 4, 2001 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_23_23/ai_75648237 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320090432/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_23_23/ai_75648237 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2006 | access-date=September 6, 2008}}</ref> [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]'s head of advertising, who made life unpleasant for Devlin and Emmerich when studio executives forced recuts of ''[[Stargate (film)|Stargate]]''.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine | first=Rebecca |last=Ascher-Walsh | title=SPACE UNDER FIRE | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=July 12, 1996 | url=http://www.ew.com/article/1996/07/12/timeline-independence-day-filmshoot | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=October 9, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009144413/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,293332,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Harvey Fierstein]] as Marty Gilbert, David Levinson's coworker at Compact Cable Television Company who is killed in the NYC attack.
* [[Adam Baldwin]] as Major Mitchell, [[United States Air Force|USAF]], Area 51's commanding officer and thus a member of a governmental faction who are aware of the aliens' existence. During the interstellar war, he becomes a trusted ally to Thomas Whitmore's party.
* [[Brent Spiner]] as Dr. Brackish Okun, the unkempt and highly excitable scientist in charge of research at Area 51. The character's appearance and verbal style are based upon those of visual effects supervisor Jeffrey A. Okun, with whom Emmerich had worked on ''[[Stargate (film)|Stargate]]''.<ref>Aberly and Engel 1996, p. 45.</ref>
* [[James Duval]] as Miguel Casse, the oldest son of Russell Casse.
* [[Bill Smitrovich]] as Lt. Colonel Watson, the commanding officer of the Black Knights.
* [[Kiersten Warren]] as Tiffani, friend and co-worker of Jasmine who is killed in the LA attack.
* [[Harry Connick Jr.]] as Marine Captain Jimmy Wilder, fellow fighter pilot and friend of Steven, killed in the Black Knight counterattack. Connick took over the role from [[Matthew Perry]] who was originally cast in the role.
* [[Mae Whitman]] as Patricia Whitmore, the daughter of President Thomas J. Whitmore and First Lady Marilyn Whitmore.<ref name="doc">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitallyobsessed.com/showreview.php3?ID=204|title=Independence Day (1996)|access-date=July 9, 2008|archive-date=October 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022165236/http://www.digitallyobsessed.com/showreview.php3?ID=204|url-status=live}}
''digitallyobsessed.com''. Retrieved July 8, 2008.</ref>
* [[Ross Bagley]] as Dylan Dubrow, Jasmine Dubrow's son and Steven Hiller's stepson.
* [[Lisa Jakub]] as Alicia Casse, the daughter of Russell Casse.
* [[Giuseppe Andrews]] as Troy Casse, the son of Russell Casse.
* Special vocal effects by [[Frank Welker]].
* Alien vocal effects by Gary A. Hecker.